We decided to try a different cruise line this time, so we went with Holland America,
and just finished our cruise on the Zuiderdam, going up to Alaska on the inside passage.
Our room was very nice, very comfortable, and the bathroom and balcony seemed larger than on our Celebrity cruise from 2 years ago.
The service in the main dining room wasn't
consistent on this cruise, and the staff on this ship including all the officers, did not
express the overwhelming warmth we felt also on Celebrity.
Holland America to us, just couldn't get it together. There were not enough activities going on, on the ship, especially during the at sea days. Which leads to boredom for their guests. They just don't seem to utilize their
ship or any extra's, for their guests.
We've decided our next cruise will be on Celebrity once again. They really seem to have
it all, and are consistent in whatever they do.
They seemed to care more about their guests, and
even their daily newsletter of Ship activities
was layed out better, plus there was always plenty of actitivies going on, on the ship.
It was nice to try a new cruise line, but
it fell flat for us.
I think that's why there are so many different cruise lines. My experience on HAL was not like yours - I was wowed by the service. Haven't been on Celebrity yet to compare, but the one Celebrity ship I toured left me flat. Not to say that one is "right" and one "wrong" - there's something for everybody. Sorry your experience on HAL wasn't up to your expectations, but I'm glad you have found a cruise line you truly enjoy.
Wow, Linder - sounds like you did have a "flat" experience. Sorry to hear that, for sure. I've been on both Celebrity and HAL many times, and enjoy both of them tremendously. I've always found the food and service on both to be really superb. Perhaps it was just the particular ship.
In any case, you've gotta go with the cruise line that makes you happy - and you can't go wrong with Celebrity!!
I have been on Celebrity and Holland America, both of them are two formal for me and the crowd seems much older and there is not as many activies.
I don't like the first seating or second seating dining choices, I would prefer going when I want to go. That is one of the reasons Princess is our first choice.
Both Celebrity and Holland America have their "die hard cruisers" who will only travel on their favorite cruise line. The same goes for Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegien, Princess, etc. They have tried others and are not happy with them. I think a lot of it depends on your age, what you want in activies on the cruise, and for me what is the itenerary.
Celebrity for the Greek Islands/Turkey and New England/Canda and Holland America's Venezuala (see the tallest waterfall in the world). I have no loyalty to one cruise line, give me an interesting destination and a good price and I will go anywhere.
If there are two cruise lines going to the same place and the price is close, I will choose Princess.
What I am trying to say. Choosing a Cruise Line has to do with your own personal taste. What other cruisers like and dislike -- maybe the exact reason they choose the ship. I was bored to death on Celebrity and Holland America, my husband "loved" the lay back environment. I really enjoyed dressing up for dinner, he hated it. The ladies we had dinner with couldn't comment enough about the "real flowers" on the table.
I was overall pleased with both and the itenaries were worth the inconveniene of being at dinner at a specified time.
I just sailed the Oosterdam to Alaska August 19 to 26 and I will agree that the activities are less on an Alaska cruise during sea days. I have sailed the Zuiderdam 2X's to the Caribbean and will be doing a third next March and I found there was never enough time to do all the things they had going on during the sea days. I believe it has a great deal to do with the weather and also the client base. The passengers on the Zuiderdam to the Caribbean are younger than the passengers to Alaska. This may have had and impact on the amount and type of activities. I sailed Celebrity for the first time earlier this year and found the service to be a fraction of what you get on HA. I do, however like the diversity of the workers on other lines. As you know, most of the workers on HA are from Indonisia (sp). BTW, was Julie Barr the comedian on board? Thanks
We sailed the Zuiderdam to the Caribbean last August/Sept. We really loved it, and we did get to see Julie Barr, in fact when we got to her show it was standing room only. Great comedian!!
We just took a cruise to Alaska on the Ryndam and our experience was great. We had no problems whatsoever and the staff was very attentive to my mom's needs as she is in a wheelchair. They were there at every turn to help her including the Lido deck buffet line, getting on and off the ship for excursions, in the formal dining room, etc. I had a great time and as previously reported by people, there were NO sewage problems on this ship. No one got sick and everyone we met was great, staff and passengers alike.
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